| At the violet hour, when the eyes and back
| 215
|
| Turn upward from the desk, when the human engine waits
|
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| Like a taxi throbbing waiting,
|
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| I Tiresias, though blind, throbbing between two lives,
|
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| Old man with wrinkled female breasts, can see
|
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| At the violet hour, the evening hour that strives
| 220
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| Homeward, and brings the sailor home from sea,
|
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| The typist home at teatime, clears her breakfast, lights
|
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| Her stove, and lays out food in tins.
|
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| Out of the window perilously spread
|
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| Her drying combinations touched by the sun's last rays,
| 225
|
| On the divan are piled (at night her bed)
|
|
| Stockings, slippers, camisoles, and stays.
|
|
| I Tiresias, old man with wrinkled dugs
|
|
| Perceived the scene, and foretold the rest—
|
|
| I too awaited the expected guest.
| 230
|
| He, the young man carbuncular, arrives,
|
|
| A small house agent's clerk, with one bold stare,
|
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| One of the low on whom assurance sits
|
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| As a silk hat on a Bradford millionaire.
|
|
| The time is now propitious, as he guesses,
| 235
|
| The meal is ended, she is bored and tired,
|
|
| Endeavours to engage her in caresses
|
|
| Which still are unreproved, if undesired.
|
|
| Flushed and decided, he assaults at once;
|
|
| Exploring hands encounter no defence;
| 240
|
| His vanity requires no response,
|
|
| And makes a welcome of indifference.
|
|
| (And I Tiresias have foresuffered all
|
|
| Enacted on this same divan or bed;
|
|
| I who have sat by Thebes below the wall
| 245
|
| And walked among the lowest of the dead.)
|
|
| Bestows on final patronising kiss,
|
|
| And gropes his way, finding the stairs unlit...
|
|
|
|
| She turns and looks a moment in the glass,
|
|
| Hardly aware of her departed lover;
| 250
|
| Her brain allows one half-formed thought to pass:
|
|
| 'Well now that's done: and I'm glad it's over.'
|
|
| When lovely woman stoops to folly and
|
|
| Paces about her room again, alone,
|
|
| She smoothes her hair with automatic hand,
| 255
|
| And puts a record on the gramophone. |
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